Wall wins again: Sask. Party takes 3rd straight majority

Brad Wall votes in Swift Current with wife Tami on April 4, 2016. (File Photo/980 CJME)

Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party are one step closer to dynasty territory, sweeping to a majority government victory for a third consecutive term.

It was another resounding victory for the Sask. Party elected in 51 ridings with 63 per cent of the popular vote.

For the second time in a row, the leader of the NDP failed to win his own seat. Cam Broten lost by more than 200 votes in his riding of Saskatoon Westview. Former NDP leader Dwaine Lingenfelter stepped down as leader of the party after a loss in the riding of Regina Douglas Park in 2011.

With three new constituencies for a total of 61, the Sask. Party comes out with 51 seats, two more than the party held going into the election.

Wall was the first candidate to be officially elected in his home riding of Swift Current by a margin of more than 4,800 votes.

Wall began his victory speech just before 10 p.m. by thanking Cam Broten and the NDP candidates for contesting the election and for making democracy work.

He noted the location of the Sask. Party headquarters in Swift Current, named for Captain John Palliser who originally surveyed the land and came to the conclusion in his report to the crown that “no one should live here and no one should farm here”.

“Maybe it’s fitting tonight that we would mark well that in this province you better be careful when you tell someone that something can’t be done, because something got done in the province of Saskatchewan tonight,” Wall exclaimed to cheers from the crowd.

He thanked his campaign workers, candidates and volunteers along with his parents and his family.

“Even after this third consecutive win, this is not our question tonight. We did not win anything tonight. We have been given an opportunity to serve. An opportunity to serve the people of the province that we love, let us do that in humility and with determination to be worthy of the opportunity that is given,” Wall said. “With determination to keep the promises that we made in this election campaign, as we have kept the promises that we made in previous election campaigns.”

He noted that the Sask. Party did not make a lot of promises because they were not going to get into a “bidding war” with taxpayers’ money.

The Sask. Party campaigned on its record for building the economy, asking voters to “keep Saskatchewan strong”. Highlights of the Sask. Party platform include: increasing spending on highways by $70 million over four years, reducing hospital administration spending to redirect funds to frontline workers, and selling some public liquor stores.

It was a disastrous night for the NDP, picking up only one extra seat for a total of 10. Despite Broten’s surprise loss in Saskatoon Westview, the NDP did win a consolation prize, regaining a seat in Regina Douglas Park that former NDP leader Dwaine Lingenfelter lost in 2011.

Broten made a brief concession speech to thank his candidates, volunteers and supporters before knowing that he officially lost in his own riding. Deputy NDP leader Trent Wotherspoon won his seat in Regina, but refused to speak to the media following his brief speech. Broten will be speaking to reporters Tuesday morning.

The NDP campaigned on promises to hire more nurses, teachers and educational assistants, scrap Lean in health care facilities and to review all P3 projects underway.